Why Goal Setting Sucks…
Why Goal Setting Sucks…
4 Step Process to Achieving Goals called the DGPA Formula, Dreams – Goals – Plan – Action.
I remembered there used to be a time when we had way too many seminars and workshops on setting goals and having goals. It was probably a trend, as many people were going into business and exploring the journey of entrepreneurship, and goal setting became a very popular thing. First of all, there is no ONE EXACT way to set your goals. You have to use methods that suit you best, and as goes the saying – “One person’s meat may be another man’s poison.”
Secondly, it is more important to ACHIEVE goals, than to just be setting them. Too many people set goals, but I have met many people that do not achieve their goals. This is unfortunate, but I’ve met many business owners who cease to have goals anymore, because they don’t achieve them. What I have found is: Business owners, who don’t have goals in their business or for themselves (personally), are just existing, or going with the flow.
Going with the flow is a very dangerous place to be (in business) because:-
This piece I’ve written is dedicated to business owners who have goals, had goals (past tense) and those who want to build powerful goals, because they plan to achieve them. I have a 4 step process to achieving goals, and it’s called the DGPA Formula, Dreams – Goals – Plan – Action.
D FOR DREAMS
Begin with your Dreams. Begin with clearly drawing out the picture of your ideal life. Those are the pictures that we have, when we daydream. Ideal times in the day for daydreaming: while driving, in the shower, on holiday, waiting for your flight at the airport, etc. For some business owners, I recommend a weekly dose of day-dreaming. Why? I have met so many people in business that DO a lot, and they keep themselves busy by “doing”. After 15 years, it is common that they get demotivated, burnt out, or tired, and some have even forgotten why they started business in the first place! Dreaming helps you remember WHY you started.
In our vision (back then), something excited us, that we quit our full-time jobs, we invested all that money, we migrated from another country, etc. But if we don’t keep ourselves dreaming, we are not reminding ourselves of our ultimate goal, and ultimate vision. And this vision is not just about the successful business, it’s about YOU.
G FOR GOALS
Dreams are just dreams, but a dream with a deadline becomes a Goal. A goal enables us to know (with clarity) that we have arrived. This is very important, because there are possibilities of driving right past! Imagine driving past your destination, the least you could do, is to stop and take a break!
The clearer your goals, the more e#ective you will be in navigating your way there. Having goals enable business owners to review, reflect and adjust. The challenge with most entrepreneurs is that their destinations are way too vague.
P FOR PLAN
There goes a saying “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. One must know the di#erence between the goals and the plan. Goals are where you are going, the plan is the how. Planning is your ability to account for the risks that stand between you and your goals. Don’t get me wrong, we are not planning for the worse to happen. Considering the possible risks, enable you to overcome possible setbacks. That’s the benefit of comprehensive planning.
There is a fine balance for how much time one should invest in building the plan. This depends on what type of person you are. For some meticulous people, there can be too much time spent planning, that they get paralyzed from over-analysis, but for some fast-paced entrepreneurs, there is insufficient time invested in building a solid plan and they should consider more bases.
A FOR ACTION
Most business owners suffer with getting, building and keeping momentum in execution. In Action, there are 2 powerful elements – consistency and accountability. Let’s paint this scenario: You have a friend waiting for you at the park for a run, 3 times a day, you are more likely to show up at the park and run. If you were going on your own, would you be more likely to be consistent with your run?
For most people, it’s easier to let themselves down them to let someone else down. It’s easier to keep a promise with someone else, than to keep a promise with ourselves. This is called accountability. In our coaching programs, the DGPA formula has helped many business owners and entrepreneurs over the world. It’s not rocket science, but it takes a lot of discipline to apply. Make this the best year ever for you. Stop setting goals; it’s time to achieve them!
It’s Time to Take Action!
Maresa Ng – Asia's Top Business Growth Specialist
As Entrepreneur, Author, Investor, Professional Speaker, and ActionCOACH Asia Master Coach Trainer, Maresa has grown several of her own businesses and has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs, business owners & CEOs to succeed in turning around their businesses. She is the author of MPH Masterclass Guide to Starting a Business. Having spoken in over a dozen countries regionally, her business-building-seminars have touched the lives of thousands of business people and entrepreneurs. Maresa had achieved Top 3 Firm Builder in Asia Pacific in year 2015, and maintained Top 100 Global Coach in 2012 and 2013. One of her businesses was awarded SME100 Fastest Moving SMEs by SME & Entrepreneur Magazine in 2012. Her track record of both successes and failures has led her to be one of the most prominent business speakers and experts in the region. Described mainly as businesses secret-weapon, Maresa has the strategic and tactical ability, energy and passion to take entrepreneurs and businesses to the next level. Visit www.maresang.com and transform your business today.
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